I am a stay at home mom to a beautiful boy, Nikolas with another little guy on the way. Nik is my favorite partner for cooking, I even have a little apron for him. I love the challenge in cooking, its either going to turn out great or not. I have been cooking since I got married in 2004 and I've come along way since then. My poor husband has eaten some pretty bad cooking from me in the beginning and did so with a smile and encouragement. Since then I have become a really good cook...I'm no Paula Dean but I can hold my own in the kitchen. I also love photography, my husband just bought us a Canon Rebel Xsi so I'm hoping my food photos will start to look better. Things I love besides cooking and baking...reading (total bookworm), digital scrapbooking, playing Rock Band on the XBOX360 and shopping...I mean, what cook doesn't love Bed Bath and Beyond or my FAVORITE Sur La Table? So many to choose from but the one favorite I love making is banana bread, I could make this in my sleep I've made it so much. I also love making my special recipe Pineapple Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting...it doesn't get any better than this. I never really cooked with my family before I was married, which I'm sure contributed to the many nights of popping a pizza in the oven when I finally had my own kitchen. With my son though, we cook together all the time, I always try and include him in my cooking, this year we will be making cookies together for Santa and a birthday cake to celebrate the birth of Jesus which I hope to continue every year. I made my smores cheesecake bites for a family members super bowl party, I made 75 of them and they were gone in an hour. Another cooking triumph was making Beef Bourguignon and having my parents over for dinner and having them not only love it but there were no leftovers. I was a proud cook!! Hmmmm Tuna Casserole for sure. I'm not sure if it was me or we just hate heated up tuna, but it was beyond disgusting.